FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1943
1943 - 1561.PDF
JUNE I7TH, 1943 FLIGHT 627 WAR IN THE AIR her behind. Naturally, the Italians proclaim this a sort of victory, declar- ing that the garrison of the island re- pelled an attempt at invasion. One can hardly blame the Italian authori- ties for seizing on any scrap of news, distorted or otherwise, which may help to cheer the spirits of their troops and civilians. But the end of the story of the Italian islands is not yet. Since the above lines were written another scrutiny of the photographs taken after the bombing of Spezia has led to the conclusion that after all an Italian battleship of the Littorio class was probably damaged in the bows by a bomb. Anything which can keep these ships out of action for even a short time just now is an advantage to the Allies. Though they would be unable to fight to any advantage out- side the range of shore-based fighters (for Italy has no carriers) they might well be a nuisance to an Allied force making a landing. The Pacific Position •FOLLOWING on Mr. Churchill's •*• declaration that the United Nations are now in a position to assume the offensive against Japan as well as against the Axis in Europe, interesting statements have been made by both Col. Knox, Secretary of the U.S. Navy, and Mr. Curtin, the Premier of Australia. Col. Knox said that the initiative in the Pacific was now "all ours," that secret informa- tion has shown that the feeling ia Tokyo and Berlin was akin to that of the American people after Pearl Har- bour, and that the present war was the greatest naval war in history. It has many times been adumbrated in these columns that the war against Japan must be a naval struggle, and that once the Japanese battle fleet has been defeated all the tentacles which the octopus has thrown out over the Pacific must wither. Other commen- tators have been less optimistic, STARVING THE AXIS FRONT LINE : A train laden with ammunition and divebombers for Axis troops in Tunisia destroyed by Allied bombers near Enfidaville. This picture shows shells scattered beside the wrecked train on the track. pointing out that Japanese soldiers can always live on the country in the many lands which they have overrun. This may be granted, but though the local rice fields may provide them with food they cannot produce weapons and ammunition. The Japanese forces in Burma and on every occupied island depend for their fighting supplies on sea transport, and it is only the existence of the Japanese battle fleet which,makes such trans- port possible. It now goes without' saying that sea power includes air power. Without it the warships would be blind and in deadly peril. The United States and Britain are fully alive to that fact, and there is no reason to fear a shortage of carriers on their side when the Tra- falgar of the Pacific is fought. Mr. Curtin was equally cheerful in the statement which he issued after a conference with Gen. MacArthur. He said : '' The holding war imposed on us in circumstances of great diffi- culty was an obligation under global strategy which has been discharged. I do not think the enemy can now invade our country." Meantime, in Great Britain great cheer has been caused by the an- nouncement of Major-General I. C. Eaker, who commands the Eighth Air Force of the American Army, to the effect that the size of that Force has more than doubled since March and will be doubled again by October. He was sure that Germany could not re- place her air losses, while America and Britain could replace theirs. The prospect before Germany is, therefore, very grim. It was also very interest- ing to learn that the U.S. Eighth Air Force is now divided into Strategic and Tactical divisions. The lessons of the Tunisian campaign have been very carefully studied here, and in the view of Gen. Eaker the chief lesson to be learnt was that concerning the Tactical Air Force which Air Marshal Coningham commanded. ERRAND OF MERCY A Bristol Bombay ambulance picking up sick and wounded prisoners 01 war from Tunis,were taken to the hospital at Sfax. They
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
